The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 407, 19 November 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1868.

Ik countries where the inhabitants have had the experience of ages to guide them in the study of that interesting subject, meteorology, it is now received as a maxim that the appearance of one swallow does not necessarily indicate the advent of summer. It is to be regretted that the maxim stops at that point, and does not affirm the exact number of swallows t) be accepted as proof presumptive that summer has arrived. Had it done so—had it condescended to say even two swallows—the people of Westport, or those of them who are of a logical turn, might reason by analogy, and deduce some comfort from that mental exercise, in connection with such a mundane matter as the river protection works. It might be reasoned that, in proportion to the chances of summer succeeding tho appearance of a swallow, stand the chances of river protection workd following the arrival in Westport of one Government official—videlicet Mr Blackett. Ergo, that the chance

of such a consummation are, indeed, exceedingly small. But it might further be reasoned that, inasmuch as the presence of two swallows certainly indicate summer, so the advent iu Westport of a second live Government official at this particular season is an assurance that river protection works are a highly probable, if not an altogether accomplished, tact. People might even he induced to become ecstatic, and to hail the presence of the Provincial Secretary, Mr Greenfield, as a substantial guarantee that the Government of Nelson is really about to take an active interest in our local affairs, and to exercise that interest in a thoroughly practical way.

Whether people have done so, or whether this manner of reasoning has been adopted by anyone but our methodically mad contemporary, Tom o' Bedlam, we are not in a position to \ state. We believe, however, that Mr Greenfield is in Westport, and we take the liberty of presuming that ho is here as Provincial Secretary, and that, next to recruiting his health, he is also here with the object of informing ' himself as to the requirements of the most important section of the whole of the Nelson Province. Going upon this presumption, might we venture to suggest that it would be a pity if Mr Greenfield were to come and go with no more impressions of the place than may be produced upon his toes by the rather rough cause-ways of Westport, or upon his eyes by the considerable area of water which, in the exercise of Nature's abhorrence of a vacuum, now occupies the place of wharves, and quays, and public streets. It is true that only a week or two ago, the Progress Committee had, by proxy, an interview with the and were, still later, face to face with the Provincial Engineer, with no better result than making their faces a little longer than they were even before his arrival. The position of Mr Greenfield as the Superintentendent's regular adviser gives him, however, a status and a value which the Progress Committee should not be slow to l'ecognise, and, as official visits to Westport are of rare occurrence, they might reasonably inflict upon themselves, and upon their visitor, a quiet conference in the Court House, with the object of saying what they might have to say, and of hearing what little they might, with the proper observance of official reticence, be permitted to hear. It is by no means suggested that the Committee should nauseate the Secretary with a repetition of representations on a subject as to which the Engineer may be the gentleman most capable of judging Paramount in importance as that subject may be, it may reasonably be answered that, through the representations make to the head of the Government, and through the observations made by the head of the engineering department, thereis sufficient known of the wants of Westport, and of the best method of meeting these wants, if they can at all be met. But there_ are other subjects than that of the river protection upon which much might be said, and a little more might, with advantage, be heard. There are such things as money voted by the Council, but as yet unexpended ; there are roads required to centres of population as yet without roads, although they are not more distant than five or ten miles from the mouth of the Buller; there is a seat in the Provincial Council remaining vacant for want of the issue of a writ, while elsewhere writs are issued with recommendable promptitude ; and there are other subjects of superior or inferior interest, of which it may be sufficient to say that, for our present space, they are " too numerous to mention. 1 ' Upon one or all of these subjects it would be satisfactory to know that Mr Greenfield should leave Westport sufficiently informed, or should leave the Committee benefited by a friendly exchange of information, from one who may be looked upon as "having authority." It would be unsatisfactory if Mr Greenfield's visit should be merely the flight of a swallow—short and sudden, without achieving any palpable useful purpose.